AHCA warns that the federal state fiscal relief is set to expire

The American Health Care Association has called on Congress to intervene before federal fiscal relief for states expires on Wednesday.

Congress passed legislation in 2003 that sent $20 billion in fiscal relief to the states -- $10 billion in Medicaid funds through a temporary increase in the federal medical assistance percentage, and another $10 billion in revenue sharing.

"In just two days, the state fiscal relief that has been a necessary and effective lifeline allowing seniors to maintain access to quality healthcare services will end," said Charles H. Roadman II, president and CEO of AHCA in a release on Monday. "We are concerned a number of state economies remain too fragile to guarantee our frail, elderly and disabled are protected."

A June study by National Conference of State Legislatures indicated 33 states still project budget gaps for FY 2005, saying they face an aggregate budget gap of $36 billion.

Fecal transplants should be considered for patients with recurrent cases of Clostridium difficile whose symptoms cannot be addressed by antibiotics, the Infectious Diseases Society of America said in new guidelines published Thursday.

Lawmakers took a long-standing industry complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, telling Secretary Alex Azar that Medicare and Medicaid favor opioid prescription over non-addictive alternatives for treating chronic pain.